Overview
- The Olympic lineup was set off December’s All-Japan Championships, continuing expectations that Japan will add to its five-Games medal streak in figure skating.
- Reigning world champions and 2025 Grand Prix Final winners Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara enter pairs as leading gold favorites.
- Beijing 2022 silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, Grand Prix Final podium regular Shun Sato, and three-quad specialist Kao Miura anchor the men’s push against a field paced by Ilia Malinin’s technical bar.
- Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto begins her final Olympic campaign saying she is targeting silver or better, as Ami Nakai and Momone Chiba strengthen Japan’s women’s podium chances.
- Rising pair Yuna Nagaoka and Sumishi Moriguchi secured their Olympic debut after notable personal-best gains this season.